640 Palestinians killed in north Gaza in 17 days

Gaza [Palestine], October 22: Israel has killed at least 640 Palestinians in north Gaza since it laid siege to the area 17 days ago, 33 of them since dawn on Monday, medical sources have told Al Jazeera.
"Genocide is unfolding in northern Gaza in its clearest form, in full view of the world," the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry warned in a statement on Sunday.
"The occupation army is forcing residents of northern Gaza to either flee under bombardment or face killing in what resembles a circle of certain death," it said, adding that the failure of the international community to stop this "war of extermination has emboldened Israel to continue its deadly campaign".
Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera's Tarez Abu Azzoum said civilians in northern Gaza are "trapped" in their houses amid "a mass blackout".
"Food, water, and medicine have run out," he added. While Israeli air attacks have hit several areas across Gaza, the concentration of its army attacks remains in the north, particularly Jabalia refugee camp, Abu Azzoum said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian women forced to flee north Gaza said the Israeli army is separating and arresting dozens of men at checkpoints.
Abu Azzoum said rescue workers recovered the bodies of five Palestinians killed in the southern Rafah City. At least 18 others were killed and several people injured in an Israeli shelling in Jabalia, medical sources told Al Jazeera. Two Palestinians were also killed in north Gaza's as-Saftawi area northwest of Gaza City.
Reporting from Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, where Palestinian casualties from the north have been arriving after a series of attacks, Ibrahim al-Khalili described "an unimaginable situation" with funerals held since the early morning.
"People filling water containers were targeted and killed. In Beit Lahiya, a school shelter was also attacked with several killed and dozens wounded," al-Khalili said.
In a statement, the UN Human Rights Office said Israeli forces demolished a block of homes in Jabalia on Monday, while also hitting at least three UNRWA schools there.
Source: Qatar Tribune